Frequently Asked Questions

Start here to discover answers to our more common questions about Momentum Northwest. For more information or questions which can't be answered here, please reach out to us directly info@momentumnorthwest.org

What ages does your program serve?We provide programs for athletes ages 6 - 19 years old.

My son/daughter has never skied before. Is that a problem? No problem! We have programs for all ages which encourage newcomers to our sport and provide coaching and fun atmospheres for participants at all levels.

Is transportation provided for workouts? Van transportation is included in your tuition from a few key pickup points in Seattle and the Eastside for certain workouts each week. In addition, parents organize carpools from locations around the region to help defray your driving time.

My son/daughter has skied but never raced before. Is racing required? We highly encourage racing as a means of goal-setting and challenge for the individual, but also because it's so much fun! When asked what their favorite part of being on a ski team was, most athletes will tell you it was the racing trips: riding in the team van, staying in fun locations and meeting new friends from around the region are all part of these exciting weekends. For our younger athletes, local and regional events offer a chance to learn that competition can be a healthy, un-intimidating way to push oneself further in their sport and their lives.

My son/daughter has no ski equipment. Where do we go for that? We work with Second Ascent ski shop in Ballard to help our athletes get outfitted with skis, boots, and poles. At select times during the year, Second Ascent offers very generous discounting to team members, making the entry costs to the sport much more affordable. As well, our coaches are available at any time to help you make the correct equipment choices for your skier.

My 12+ year old son/daughter is interested but hasn't participated in the sport before. What's the time commitment for beginners at their age? Our most modest-commitment program for U14 (12+) and up athletes is 3x/week; they can choose to participate year-round (June - March) or select their seasons (summer, fall, and/or winter).

Because of the limitations of distance and the fact that our program serves the whole region we cannot offer every-day training like a standard school sport, and so as athletes improve their ability and want to up their commitment, they must in turn increase their individual accountability to get out and train on their own outside of coached workouts.

Our highest-commitment program is 4x/week in the summer and fall, and 5x/week in the winter, which is comparable to the highest-caliber programs across the nation.

What does the tuition cover? Your tuition covers the athlete's coached sessions with our nationally-certiifed coaching staff; van transportation (when applicable) to and from workouts; wax supplies at practices and on racing trips; and all associated training materials and coaching support throughout the year as appropriate for each program level. Momentum has some roller skiing equipment for those that do not have this equipment for training. We also have gear available for the Maverick skiers that we hand out as needed - asking that families return the gear the following fall so we can hand the equipment out again.